The Book of Nature Myths

In preparing the Book of Nature Myths the desire has been to make a second reader which would be adapted to the child's interest, ability, and progress. The subject-matter is of permanent value, culled from the folk-lore of the primitive races; the vocabulary, based upon that of the Hiawatha Primer, is increased gradually, and the new words and phrases will add to the child's power of expression. The naïve explanations of the phenomena of nature given by the primitive races appeal to the child's wonder about the same phenomena, and he is pleased and interested. These myths will gratify the child's desire for complete stories, and their intrinsic merit makes them valuable for oral reproduction. The stories have been adapted to youthful minds from myths contained in the works of many students of folk-lore whose scholarship is undisputed. Special acknowledgment is due Miss Eva March Tappan for her valuable assistance in the final revision of the text. CONTENTS. PAGE The Story of the First Humming-bird. The Story of the First Butterflies 10 The Story of the First Woodpecker 13 Why the Woodpecker's Head is Red 15 Why the Cat always falls upon her Feet 19 Why the Swallow's Tail is Forked 23 Why the White Hares have Black Ears 28 Why the Magpie's Nest is not well built 31 Why the Raven's Feathers are Black 34 How Fire was brought to the Indians. How the Quail became a Snipe 43 Why the Serpent sheds his Skin 47 Why the Dove is Timid 50 Why the Parrot repeats the Words of Men 52 The Story of the First Mocking-bird 56 Why the Tail of the Fox has a White Tip 60 The Story of the First Frogs 64 Why the Rabbit is Timid 68 Why the Peetweet cries for Rain 70 Why the Bear has a Short Tail 72 Why the Wren flies Close to the Earth 76 Why the Hoofs of the Deer are Split 79 The Story of the First Grasshopper 83 The Story of the Oriole 86 Why the Peacock's Tail has a Hundred Eyes 89 The Story of the Bees and the Flies 93 The Story of the First Moles 96 The Story of the First Ants 98 The Face of the Manito 103 The Story of the First Diamonds 107 The Story of the First Pearls 111 The Story of the First Emeralds 114 Why the…